Explainer: Why prepaid electricity meters face a shutdown and what you can do about it.

South Africa is bracing for potential chaos as a critical software deadline for prepaid electricity meters looms this Sunday. If not updated, millions of electricity meters will stop accepting new credit tokens after 20:16 on November 24, leaving users without power once their current credit runs out. Eskom, however, is reassuring customers that those who have been consistently buying electricity will likely have their meters updated automatically by simply purchasing a new token. But there is still a lot of confusion. Here’s what you need to know:

What is the problem, and who will be affected?

Prepaid electricity meters in South Africa use a global standard called the Standard Transfer Specification (STS). A security feature in this system limits the number of unique credit tokens (20-digit codes) that can be generated. Once this limit is reached, called the TID rollover, meters will stop accepting new electricity tokens unless they are updated. On Sunday evening, the system reaches its 31-year limit, making all meters on the current version unable to accept new tokens. Approximately 2.2 million Eskom meters and 260,000 municipal meters have not been updated. Many of these may belong to fraudulent users who bypass meters, but thousands of legal, paying customers could also lose access if they fail to update in time.

What caused the delay?

The delay in updating prepaid electricity meters in South Africa stems from a lack of urgency and foresight. Eskom and other municipal electricity providers were aware as far back as 1993 that prepaid meters had a built-in expiry due to the TID system requiring periodic system updates, and that the meters on the current TID system would no longer accept new tokens from 24 November 2024 unless they were updated. However, widespread efforts to address the issue, including communication and outreaches, only began in 2023. Talk about leaving things to the last minute. 

What is happening now?

With just a few days remaining before prepaid electricity meters stop accepting new tokens, Eskom offices across are seeing long queues. According to News24, some Soweto residents have waited for hours, with a few even ready to spend the night in line to ensure their meters are updated. “I do not have a choice, I had to come because my electricity supply will be cut off if I don’t upgrade my meter box,” he said.

Minister of Electricity Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has raised concerns about potential protests from frustrated customers when the deadline passes this Sunday. “I do anticipate that come the 25th, there will be people lining up, protesting, expressing grievances. We are saying that we still have another four days to do this exercise,” he said.

As the clock ticks down to the Sunday deadline, the pressure is mounting for some South Africans who risk losing power if their prepaid electricity meters aren’t updated in time. While Eskom assures that users can avoid disruption by simply purchasing a new token, concerns about long queues and potential protests remain.

What should you do to update your meter number?

The first step in upgrading your prepaid meter is to check if it has been updated. Enter the code “1844 6744 0738 4377 2416” on your meter keypad. If the meter displays “2,” or “2.2,” it has been successfully upgraded to KRN2. If it shows “1” or “1.2,” your meter is still on KRN1, and you’ll need to upgrade it.

To upgrade your meter, you can do it yourself by following these steps:

1. Get two key change tokens from a legitimate prepaid electricity vendor, such as through banking apps or value-added service resellers.

2. Enter the first 20-digit recode token and wait for it to be accepted.

3. Enter the second 20-digit recode token and wait for it to be accepted.

4. Finally, enter the 20 digits of your electricity voucher to recharge your meter to KRN version 2.

It’s important to remember that once the meter is updated, any previously purchased tokens will no longer work.

If your meter doesn’t accept the 20-digit codes and you have internet access, visit Eskom’s chatbot, select “update details,” and follow the prompts. You’ll receive an SMS from Eskom with further instructions. If you don’t have internet access, you can dial *12037566# on your mobile for assistance.

Customers who have difficulty updating their meters can contact Eskom’s support lines for assistance; contact numbers are in the table below: